Sacramento water use down during mandatory conservation

SACRAMENTO - A few months into 20-percent mandatory water conservation ordered by the city of Sacramento and the results show residents and the city have cut water consumption by double digits.

City spokesperson Jessica Hess said for the month of March, city water customers saved 16 percent compared to average water use over the previous two years.

City of Sacramento departments recorded using 54 percent less water compared to their average use over the previous two-year period.

More specifically, Hess said water demands were approximately 62 million gallons of water per day in March in contrast to the average March usage the previous two years of 74 million gallons of water per day. The water savings is equivalent to the annual water usage of approximately 2,300 homes.

The conservation order allows outdoor watering two days a week and no watering is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Hess said city departments have implemented the following drought mitigation tactics:

· Inventorying plumbing fixtures in City facilities to find opportunities to convert to low water use fixtures.

Hess says there have been a variety of methods used to enforce and publicize water conservation. They include increased watering compliance patrols, water conservation messages on utility bills, restaurant table placards, and billboard and social media advertising.